Just days ahead of the launch of the 2018 edition of the SIHH – the Geneva-based watch fair where all the watchmaking brands of the Richemont Group present their novelties – the Richemont Group posts its financial results for?the last quarter of 2017. The positive trend continues with an overall 7% increase in sales for the Group.Firstl.................. 2018-01-11 More

Here, at MONOCHROME, we’re not huge fans of the smart-watches, to say the least. We cherish and celebrate watches in their purest (probably old-school) form: ME-CHA-NI-CAL! We love gears, pinions, hand-decoration, complications but also all the devoted people that work behind the scenes. Smart-watch, as tech objects, never ticked the boxes. H.................. 2018-01-11 More

2 years ago, Oris presented the first?Carl Brashear Limited Edition, a bronze vintage-inspired dive watch with a lovely contrasting blue dial. No need to say, it was an instant hit. The watch went sold-out quickly and pleased collectors. Today, we have the second edition. Using the same bronze/blue dial combination, still based on the Divers Sixty .................. 2018-01-10 More

Now it makes zero sense to compare the very first luxury sports watch to the very latest in this desirable segment, at least not from a consumer’s perspective (the vintage AP RO Jumbo is of course not for sale anymore.) However, it does, when looking at if and how the luxury sports watch segment has developed over the past 4.5 decades. The Au.................. 2018-01-09 More

Since its introduction in 2006, the?Patek Philippe 5396 Annual Calendar is amongst the most classical options in the brand’s collection. It offers a cleaner and a slightly more modern option to the conservative reference 5146, the sub-dial based Annual Calendar watch. In addition to the?existing versions, with silvery-white or grey dials (wit.................. 2018-01-08 More

It’s true… The SIHH 2018 hasn’t started yet. However, as every year, the game of the “pre-SIHH” watches (novelties introduced as teasers for what is to come during the fair) brought its dosage of new watches. In order to prepare yourself for what’s coming in a week, here is a short recap of the main novelties alr.................. 2018-01-06 More

As you well know, dear reader, we manage to get our hands on an enviable number of incredible timepieces here at MONOCHROME. Some, like the stunning Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance with guilloche dial by Kari Voutilainen, make their presence immediately felt, whilst others, like the Tudor Heritage Black Bay steel, are decidedly more understate.................. 2018-01-05 More

While some of the watches introduced by Ulysse Nardin at the SIHH 2018 slightly surprised us, including the Marine Torpilleur Military (and surprise doesn’t mean negative feelings here), the brand also had something resolutely classic up its sleeve in the form of the?Classico Manufacture Grand Feu, which we reviewed here. Endowed with glossy .................. 2018-01-04 More

The horological landscape is a complex and interesting one, filled with not only mechanical marvels for your wrist but also myriad other interrelated products. The connection with some, such as watch winders, is obvious, whilst others are a little more abstract. Berd Vaye horological sculptures definitely fit into this latter category, displaying v.................. 2018-01-04 More

I always have a little bit of a tough time stomaching car, football club or otherwise branded Limited Edition or commemorative timepieces. Some try way too hard to get across what they are, other than a standard series watch with often little more than a few details that have nothing to do with watchmaking. Don't get me wrong, there are examples th.................. 2018-01-03 More

The end of the year is close, so it is time, before 2018 starts, to recap what happened in 2017. Yesterday, we looked at the industry and the 5 main highlights of the year. Today, we move back to watches, with the 5 pieces that created most conversations. Controversial, innovative, unexpected or loved… There were some great pieces in 2017 and.................. 2017-12-30 More

As 2017 is coming to an end, and before the new horological season starts with the SIHH (as of January 15th, 2018), we thought it was important for you to understand what happened this year in the watchmaking industry. The idea here isn’t to focus on watches, we’ll have another recap article for that.?In all fairness, 2017 has been an e.................. 2017-12-29 More

A great looking simple dress watch has a certain “je ne sais quoi”. Of course there’s is only so much you can do as a designer, at least that what most laymen think. And also to us there are some very simple 2, or 3-hand watches that are just… perfect. The size, the shape of the case, that small bevel on the lugs, and that l.................. 2017-12-28 More

Recently, we had the pleasure to publish what has been one of our most demanding projects of the year, “The Speedmaster Chronicles”. We wanted to celebrate an icon of the watchmaking world, a watch that is known by most of us, a watch that carries an immense history, a watch that made it to the moon and, overall, a dream machine. You na.................. 2017-12-27 More

In mechanical engineering, compliant mechanisms (monolithic or joint-less structures) are flexible mechanisms that transfer an input force or displacement to another point through elastic body deformation, using the elastic properties of matter to affect the motion of mechanical components. These monolithic, compact and precise components replace s.................. 2017-12-23 More

If you’re a long-time reader of MONOCHROME, you should already be familiar with Brellum, a young Swiss-based brand responsible for the Duobox. This watch is everything of a no-nonsense chronograph: slightly vintage-inspired, robust, very well built and overall, cool to wear. We now have the first main evolution of this watch, the?Duobox Pandi.................. 2017-12-21 More

Just in time for the holidays, we bring you seven great watches - for men and women - under USD1,000, as selected by women insiders in the watch industry. This article was initially conceived of in response to the male-insiders-only article written in the New York Times just over a week ago. For that article, entitled A Watch With Snob Appeal for U.................. 2017-12-20 More

Recently, Xavier and I had the pleasure to visit Patek Philippe’s manufacture, from the case and bracelet factory to the Haute Horlogerie ateliers. It’s only once you’ve been there that you can understand that something truly special is going on, especially at the HH workshop. Patek Philippe minute repeaters, which are manufacture.................. 2017-12-19 More

Piaget and ultra-thin are two words that go together very well. For over 60 years now, the brand has developed a true expertise in ultra-thin watches and movements (don't forget that Piaget started its life as a movement manufacturer and not as a jeweller). From the Calibre 9P to the recent 900P, the brand has gone from one world-record to another................... 2017-12-18 More

A good watch doesn’t have to break the bank. Thankfully, there are plenty of worthy options if you are looking for something affordable, yet stylish and well-crafted. We have put together 5 respectable watches priced under EUR 1,000. Of course, because you are reading MONOCHROME, these 5 timepieces couldn't be anything else than automatic. An.................. 2017-12-16 More

Vintage-inspired watches have been one of the hottest trends of 2017 and this looks set to continue in 2018. Automotive-focused watches from the golden era of the 1960's and 1970's, such as the Bell & Ross Vintage Bellytanker and the Heuer Autavia, have been particularly popular, no doubt helped along in no small part by the $17m sale of a Da.................. 2017-12-15 More

Today is the fifth and last episode of “The Speedmaster Chronicles“. We’ve been looking at the past (the NASA story, the vintage collector) and the present (auctions and markets, Speedy Tuesday movement) and today we need to close the circle. It’s time for us to understand what the Speedmaster represents?for Omega and to loo.................. 2017-12-15 More

The Former NASA Program Manager and Aerospace Engineer who certified the Speedmaster, the journalist turned watch-designer who initiated “Speedy Tuesday”, a seasoned Speedy collector… What could have been the next step when it comes to the Omega Speedmaster? At a certain point, when you look at such an iconic watch, you have to ta.................. 2017-12-14 More

Last year, Oris introduced their first watch made in partnership with Rega,?a private, non-profit air?rescue?service that provides emergency medical assistance in?Switzerland. Based on the powerful and unique?Big Crown ProPilot Altimeter, we even tested it right where it should be, in the Swiss mountains. Today, Oris presents the Oris GMT Rega Limi.................. 2017-12-14 More

Our series of videos “The Speedmaster Chronicles” started with two insiders. One is the fFormer NASA Program Manager and Aerospace Engineer who tested and certified the Moonwatch before going to the Moon. The other is no less than Mister Speedy Tuesday, our dear friend Robert-Jan Broer. Today, for Episode 3, we move on the other side of.................. 2017-12-13 More

Today is Tuesday. What else then, except?having the one-and-only?Mister Speedy Tuesday featured for our second instalment of “The Speedmaster Chronicles“. Yesterday, we started this series of videos with the man that certified the Omega Speedmaster to go to the Moon. Today, we give the floor to fellow watch-journalist?Robert-Jan Broer, .................. 2017-12-12 More

The Reverso… A classic among the classics. It is indeed such a watch, however, there’s nothing wrong with a good old classic watch and the Reverso proves it after almost 90 years of existence (its creation dates back 1931). Done in dozens of variations, Jaeger-LeCoultre introduces a new model as part of the Pre-SIHH 2018 collection: a R.................. 2017-12-12 More

Here it is: Episode 1 of our series of videos dedicated to the one-and-only Omega Speedmaster “Moonwatch“. Certainly one of the most iconic watches ever created, many stories have been written about this stopwatch. Yet, today, we are proud to have a special guest with us for the first episode of “The Speedmaster Chronicles“................... 2017-12-11 More

Last year, at the SIHH 2017, Montblanc introduced an entire collection focused on sports, the new Timewalker. The main source of inspiration for this collection was certainly Motorsport… But that was just a fraction of where these watches came from. In fact, there’s a longer story behind them, as the?TimeWalker collection takes its DNA .................. 2017-12-11 More

Today, we’re extremely proud to announce that tomorrow, 11 December 2017, our largest video project ever (and we’ve done quite a few – see here) will go live, and it will last for no less than 5 days. It took us some great efforts to gather all these amazing guests, to find the right angle, to define what it would look like, and o.................. 2017-12-10 More

All of you here might know the story behind the creation of the “Luxury-Sports Watch”, a long-lasting trend that started back in 1972 when a certain Gerald Genta designed the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. The idea began with a thin, integrated watch in stainless steel, featuring attributes from haute-Horlogerie and sports watches, and pric.................. 2017-12-09 More

My wrist is a lucky one as I get to test a lot of seriously brilliant wrist watches. Whether it’s the understated Galet Square Tourbillon Double Spiral from Laurent Ferrier, the magnificent?Datograph from A. Lange & Sohne, the ultra-thin and uber-clean Piaget Altiplano in white gold, or even the € 60.000 Euro impressive Grand Seiko Spring.................. 2017-12-08 More

It's getting towards the end of the year and starting to get very cold (or very hot, depending on which hemisphere you live in). The Christmas decorations have already been up for weeks, and the office parties are about to get in full swing. To a watch lover, all of this can only mean one thing: it's time for some SIHH 2018 previews! Never one to d.................. 2017-12-08 More

In January 2017, one of the greatest and humblest men I had the chance to meet, Mister Walter Lange (1924-2017), founder of A. Lange & Sohne, sadly passed away. In honour of its founder, the Saxon manufacture is enlarging its 1815 collection with the?1815 Homage to Walter Lange. Inside this watch is a surprising and unexpected complication: a?s.................. 2017-12-07 More

As you've no doubt seen or heard already, IWC Schaffhausen is turning 150 next year and we're told the Swiss watch manufacturer has some pretty major celebrations planned. These include the unveiling of a special Jubilee collection at SIHH 2018, comprising an astonishing 27 limited-edition models. Among them will be this beautifully refined IWC Da .................. 2017-12-06 More

As part of the new “150 Years” collection, which already includes two superb watches, the re-edition of the Pallweber and the Portugieser Tourbillon Constant Force, IWC treats us with an unprecedented combination of complications, integrated inside the iconic Portugieser case. Using the classical nautical look of this model with the add.................. 2017-12-05 More

With the SIHH 2018 only a few weeks away, brands are pre-releasing selected models to whet our appetite. Among them is Montblanc, which has unveiled a new version of their iconic Nicolas Rieussec Monopusher Chronograph. Meet the Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph, bringing a classic and elegant take on this watch that has always bee.................. 2017-12-05 More

For a few years now, Oris has been utilising its dive-watch production to highlight the protection of oceanic ecosystems that under threat, by sponsoring expeditions and fundraisers. Of course, it does make a lot of sense, as if there are no more diving areas to explore, what is the point of manufacturing dive watches? The latest example of such pa.................. 2017-12-05 More

It seems that the online world is really taking over the luxury market, which apparently also includes the watchmaking industry. Indeed,?Jaeger-LeCoultre is about to propose a limited edition exclusive to its online boutique – meaning that you won’t find it in stores. Based on the surprising?Geophysic True Second, a “Seconde Morte.................. 2017-12-04 More

Last year, at the SIHH 2017, Montblanc introduced their own vision of the sports watch, with a completely redesigned TimeWalker collection – guided by Mister Davide Cerrato, known for being quite good in designing such watches. Presented in several editions, from 3-hand to UTC chronograph, the collection is again evolving, not with new compli.................. 2017-12-04 More